Fire Department Reorganization/Memorandum of UnderstandingCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Action Items # 010.
Copyrighted
December 19, 2022
ITEM TITLE: Fire Department Reorganization/Memorandum of Understanding
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Dubuque Association of Professional Fire
Fighters, Local #353 and an organizational structure realignment related
to the city ambulance service.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Fire Department Reorganization/ MOU-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
MOU Supporting Documentation
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Fire Department Reorganization/MOU
DATE: December 15, 2022
Dubuque
All -America City
IN
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Fire Chief Amy Scheller is recommending approval of a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Dubuque Association of Professional Fire Fighters, Local #353 and an
organizational structure realignment related to the city ambulance service.
Discussions with the labor group to attrition the promotion rank on the department's
ambulances were held and an agreement was reached on a general MOU which will
lead to amendment of the collective bargaining agreement. The discussions outlined an
attrition concept which would realign the departments staffing to firefighter paramedics
staffing the ambulances and suppression vehicles and falling under the supervision of
a fire station suppression vehicle company officer. The station officer would have
responsibilities of both fire and EMS supervision and members on both EMS and
suppression vehicles would continue to work together on EMS and fire response
incidents. It was recognized the attrition of medical officer ranks would reduce the
number of promoted ranks and opportunities for promotion however it would also serve
to realign the span of control and continue to embed fire and EMS service across all
Dubuque Fire response vehicles.
A 3.5% raise was agreed in the MOU agreement. This MOU was voted and agreed
upon by the labor group on Friday, December 16t" in exchange for the attrition and
realignment of the promoted ranks within the department.
3.5% represents an impact of $181,451 in immediate raises. Promotions for the 3rd
ambulance equal $57,977 which would not occur if an agreement were reached, this
would begin the attrition process. The attached graph represents the data associated
with a 3.5% scenario over a five-year period. The attrition scenario could take longer
or shorter to accomplish.
The department has been operating below approved FTE staffing since July 1, 2022,
which represent a salary and benefits savings of approximately $30,000 each month for
4 positions. These vacant positions are scheduled to be filled on January 30t" of
2023. The vacancy factor for 7 months equals approximately $210,000.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Y
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Martin Fitzpatrick, Union President
THE CITY OF
DUiB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Fire Department Reorganization/ MOU
DATE: December 15, 2022
I'kI:W110101lei ZI
Dubuque
All -America City
I�
2007•2012.2013
2017*2019
An evaluation of the fire department's structure identified an opportunity to realign both
fire and EMS supervision under the rank structure of the Dubuque Fire Department. The
primary objective is to create a working crew concept at each of the fire stations which
fall under the supervision of a single company officer realigning the span of control from
2to1:4or1:5.
BACKGROUND:
The fire department is the primary 911 Emergency Medical Services, all hazards and
fire response provider for the City of Dubuque. Every fire department operational
employee is trained to the highest EMS level and every response vehicle, including the
departments fire suppression vehicles (fire engines and ladder trucks) are equipped to
provide advanced life support care to the community. The fire department has evolved
over the years to aggressively improve and embed emergency medical services within
the fire department and establish EMS as a primary service provided by the fire
department. Emergency EMS response currently represents approximately 75% of call
volume for the Dubuque Fire Department.
Each ambulance is staffed with promoted officer positions. These positions include 3
medical officers, 2 EMS lieutenants, and 1 EMS captain. The captain has oversight and
responsibility for their assigned unit. This staffing model is in use for each of the
ambulances, the department has three front line ambulances.
Every fire engine and ladder truck is also staffed with promoted officer positions. These
positions include a lieutenant or captain for each suppression vehicle each shift. This
model creates a span of control scenario of 1:1 or 1:2 where the suppression vehicle
has an officer supervising a firefighter paramedic and the EMS vehicle has an officer
supervising a firefighter paramedic. An opportunity exists to realign the supervision of
both fire and EMS companies under a single station officer.
DISCUSSION:
Discussions with the labor group to attrition the promotion rank on the department's
ambulances were held and a general MOU was drafted for consideration. The
discussions outlined an attrition concept which would realign the departments staffing to
firefighter paramedics staffing the ambulances and suppression vehicles and falling
under the supervision of a fire station suppression vehicle company officer. The station
officer would have responsibilities of both fire and EMS supervision and members on
both EMS and suppression vehicles would continue to work together on EMS and fire
response incidents. It was recognized the attrition of medical officer ranks would reduce
the number of promoted ranks and opportunities for promotion however it would also
serve to realign the span of control and continue to embed fire and EMS service across
all Dubuque Fire response vehicles.
A 3.5% raise proposal was evaluated and presented in the MOU agreement. This
MOU was voted and agreed upon by the labor group on Friday, December 16t" in
exchange for the attrition and realignment of the promoted ranks within the department.
3.5% represents an impact of $181,451 in immediate raises. Promotions for the 3rd
ambulance equal $57,977 which would not occur if an agreement were reached, this
would begin the attrition process. The attached graph represents the data associated
with a 3.5% scenario over a five-year period. The attrition scenario could take longer or
shorter to accomplish.
The department has been operating below approved FTE staffing since July 1, 2022,
which represent a salary and benefits savings of approximately $30,000 each month for
4 positions. These vacant positions are scheduled to be filled on January 30t" of 2023.
The vacancy factor for 7 months equals approximately $210,000.
ACTION STEP:
Requesting approval of the MOU and organizational structure realignment.
2023 Impact 2024 2025 2026 2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
Cost of Promoting
($57,977.92) ($59,717.26) ($61,508.78) ($63,354.04) ($65,154.66)
($67,212.30)
(Cost difference)/Savings of providing raise for the attrition
process v/s the regular
course of action
Impactfor
S Year attrition phase
the first year
4%Raise Summary
($215,655.56) ($169,782.80) ($115,019.68) ($56,817.99) ($18,096.75)
$2,004.07
$2,064.19
$2,126.12
$2,189.90
$2,255.61
$2,323.27
3.5% Raise Summary
($181,451.38) ($134,804.13) ($79,279.43) ($20,301.95) $19,320.41
$40,444.50
$41,657.83
$42,907.57
$44,194.80
$45,520.64
$46,886.26
3.0%Raise Summary
($147,247.19) ($99,825.47) ($43,539.18) $16,214.12 $56,737.61
$78,884.97
$81,251.52
$83,689.06
$86,199.74
$88,785.73
$91,449.30
**Regular course of action is
promoting staff as planned and giving regular 3% raises
Cc: Shelley Stickfort
Cori Burbach
Abhishek Rai
2
DUBUQUE PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 25
December 16th, 2022
1) 3.5% wage increase across all ranks -Effective October 31", 2022. Said across the ranks wage increase
shall be in addition to the previously negotiated wage increase contained within the collective bargaining
agreement between the City and the Local that is currently effective through June 30, 2024. The 3.5%
across the ranks wage increase is stipulated to and contained within the wage schedule labeled attachment
A and attached hereto.
2) Removal of officers from medic units through attrition or reassignment (Captains, Lieutenants, Medical
Officers). Staffing of medic units will transition to firefighter paramedic ranks when no medical officer,
lieutenant or captain is assigned (e.g., charge paramedic and firefighter paramedic).
3) "Charge Paramedic" pay for medic assignment $25.60 per shift to begin on October 31". This amount
shall be increased as noted per the CBA under article 15. When permanently assigned "Charge Medic" is
not on duty, the senior fill-in on the medic unit is deemed "Charge Medic" and will receive the medic
assignment pay of $25.60 per shift. Charge paramedic or other out of grade pay shall not be combined.
4) All other "Out of Grade" assignment and pay incentive on the medic unit continues until the promoted
positions of medical officer, EMS lieutenant, and EMS captain has been vacated through the attrition
process for each vehicle.
5) The City of Dubuque's proposed, above language in bullet points 2, 3, 4 are in exchange for the 3.5%
wage increase across all ranks -effective October 31st, 2022. If the MOU is accepted after October 311t,
2022, all wages increase as it relates the MOU will be paid -out retroactively.
6) The language contained herein shall become a part of any future collective bargaining agreements
negotiated between the Local and the City.
7) The contents of this MOU shall not be precedent setting, nor shall it establish any practice of the
parties.
Dubuque Professional Firefighters Local 25
City of D que, Iowa
M) cho,e� C. Van Mjl�
Dubuque Professional Firefighters Local 25 MOU 2022-01